This is one of the many in progress projects lying around the studio these days. I won't be adding any borders or other shapes to this quilt top, just lots and lots of triangles. I usually prefer and enjoy working with blocks, so this is a bit of a change of pace. Without large areas to feature hand quilting, I'm not sure quite how I'll quilt this. A bit of randomization might be a fun experiment considering the dancing, random look these triangles give.
Loading up my in progress piecing again. Now that I've got a big hand piecing project underway, I need a quick machine sewing project too. I've been hanging onto these fabrics for awhile now, slowly adding to the stack as it makes sense with scraps and leftovers (not photographed). Going to give equilateral triangles a go – a simple, graphic pattern for a geometric set of prints. Hard to believe I've been quilting this long without making one of these!
I started hand piecing my Lancaster Diamond Quilt in a flurry, feeling as though it was moving along so quickly until I remembered that there are 137 blocks in this quilt. HAHA yeah that's insane, really, I know it.
While the diamond patterns aren't exactly a 30 degree diamond pattern, it is very close so I went with it. We'll see if that decision comes back to bite me later, but I think I'll be a-ok. Daredevil too I guess.
Here are a few favorite blocks so far.
Alright, I promise you this is the last I'll tout Hand and Hand, my new zine project, on my personal blog for awhile. I just wanted to share the project I contributed to The Knot issue with you all.
I've designed a super simple tied quilt that lets the ties take the stage in all of their wooly goodness. The project was inspired by a tied quilt my great grandmother made for my Aunt Kim before I was born. I always loved how the wool ties felted into little pompoms, so I had to try my hand at a modern version.
There's also a little bonus content: a comprehensive, step by step guide on how to bind a quilt.
I intended this project for a beginner – even someone who doesn't own a sewing machine can do it. If you're a seasoned quilter, this would be a super fun and easy project to give as a gift. Making a tied quilt actually made me regard them with more affection than I ever did before. The binding tutorial is also one of my favorite parts of the zine, and I hope you'll check it out.
Now back to regularly scheduled content!
I've been inspired by this quilt since my mom sent me a link to the pattern several months ago. It's affectionately known as the Lancaster Diamond quilt dates from 1840 and was made in Lancaster, PA. Ann Holte has worked generously for two years to produce pattern drawings of each of the diamonds. I'm quite excited for some of the teensy tiny piecing that is ahead of me. While this quilt was likely created from orphaned blocks or scraps over a long period of time by the original quilter, I'd like to try my hand at all the different types of piecing/blocks and stay as faithful to the original as possible. Perhaps as I work something else will emerge for me in the process, this is my game plan for now! The jewel stack I posted last week is destined for this pattern, and I think the warm colors and texture additions of wool will be just lovely for this.